Saturday, November 29, 2014

Hamengkubuwono IX Kraton

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Hamengkubuwono IX
" even though I have tasted Western Education, I am still and will always be Javanese" words spoken at his cornanation ceremony on the 18 March 1940. Later in his life he would be given the title of a National Hero for Indonesia.
He played such a vital role in the independence of Indonesia from the Dutch Colonial Government. When the Japanese Inperial Army was advancing and taking control of Indonesia he was told to to evacuate to Australia or to the Netherlands, but he refused insisting that a Sultan has to stay close to its people in times of crises - in fact he saved his people from being sent to Burma to become forced labors by asking the Japanese to allow the building of a water canal ( the Selokan Matarami)
When the Dutch returned to lay claim to their former colony he played a vial role again in the resistance. He was handed the authority in 1949 as the Dutch retreated and again by Queen Julianna in Amsterdam in December of the same year.
Directly after the declaration of independence because he gave support to the new Central Government he was recognized by the appoint of a Life Government and a special area was set apart.
Noni was not happy at this - he never took a Queen to be his wife but preferred to have four concubines which gave him 21 children.
He was a fan of movies and novels and of Cooking. He began an unofficial cooking club which even member Cabinet Ministers as members.. He was very involved in the Scouts and enjoyed bird watching and exploring.
At the musuem we were told all this but I didnt understand most of it until now when I did a searched. About the place I visited... Now I can connect the dots with the tour leader and pictures and the internet information. He is painted as a true hero a man like,our Winston Churchill or Abraham Lincoln... I wonder what the real truth is ...













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